Help Work & Class Celebrate Two Years While Donating to a Great Cause

January 29 marks the second anniversary of one of Denver’s favorite restaurants, Work & Class. And in true W&C fashion, owners Delores Tronco, Tony Maciag and Dana Rodriguez will be throwing a huge party on Monday, February 1, and giving all the proceeds to charity.

Tronco explains that another year has only reinforced what she told us on the eve of last year's anniversary — that the experience has been more than she and her team could have ever imagined. She expresses how truly grateful she is to have such an incredible staff that's still intact.

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This year, other than the addition of two part-time hosts, the staff is still the same. In an industry where turnover is high, this kind of continuity is truly an anomaly. Tronco says that having the same great team for two years has been one of the most crucial pieces to the restaurant’s success. It’s easy to see why staff and customers alike are sticking around. Every inch of that tiny restaurant beams with positive energy. It’s infectious: You walk in and you know you’re in good hands — even if you have to wait an hour for a table.

But about that wait: "There’s a perception that the wait times are crazy and you can’t get into Work & Class without waiting an hour or two, and that’s just not true," says Tronco. Yes, if you come in at 7 p.m. on a Friday or Saturday, you’re going to have to wait — welcome to Denver. But the restaurant is open six days a week; head over Tuesday through Thursday or on a Sunday, and you’ll have a different experience.

Some light conversation between Amelia Earhart and Mellow Corn at last year's anniversary bash.

Cassandra Kotnik

Needless to say, business is still booming, so a celebration is in order. As it did last year, W&C will donate all proceeds from the anniversary party to Denver Urban Scholars, an organization that helps at-risk youth get the resources they need to pursue higher education. Tronco says the event is about “celebrating that we are doing well in our community and are able to give back to that community.”

And there will be a theme, just as there was at last year's party. This year it's "Black and Gold." Tronco says they wanted to make it easy for people to dress up while keeping it abstract enough to allow for creativity, so you can go as far as you want with the theme. (Maybe there will be a black and gold Mellow Corn Whiskey costume this year?)

Sound fun? Here’s the deets: On Monday, February 1, dress in a black and gold costume of your fancy. For $60, come from 6 to 11 p.m. for all you can eat, all you can drink, and dancing. Or if you’re working late (or just hate delicious food), you can slip in late with an industry ticket, where $30 lets you join the party from 9 to 11 p.m. for an open bar and dancing. Tickets are on sale now, so don’t dilly-dally. Only 120 tickets are available, and last year they sold out in nine days; purchase yours on the Work & Class website.